FRANKFORT, Ky. (5/24/13) – Unemployment rates decreased in 49 Kentucky counties between April 2012 and April 2013, while 63 county rates rose and eight stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.4 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 5.6 percent; Fayette County, 5.9 percent; Ohio and Shelby counties, 6 percent each; Daviess and Scott counties, 6.1 percent each; Franklin and Hancock counties, 6.2 percent each; and Boone, Henderson, Madison and Spencer counties, 6.3 percent.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.9 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 15.8 percent; Fulton County, 15.6 percent; Harlan County, 15.5 percent; Letcher County, 15.3 percent; Bell County, 14.2 percent; Knott County, 14.1 percent; Jackson County, 13.3 percent; Menifee County, 13.1 percent; and McCreary and Perry counties, 12.7 percent each.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.